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2013 in Review

The Detroit Tigers dominated the sports business headlines for 2013, for winning, but also for major player and management personnel moves.

There also was plenty of other local financial sports news this year, from the $650 million plan for a new Detroit Red Wings arena district to the cadre of diehard fans shelling out money to watch the minor league Detroit City FC soccer team at Cass Tech.

Prince Fielder

Here's a look at some of the top stories of the past 12 months:

Prince Fielder and Doug Fister are traded: Detroit Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski surprised everyone when he swapped slugger Prince Fielder (and all but $30 million of the $168 million remaining on his contract) for Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler. Then on Dec. 2, he dealt starting pitcher Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for three young players in a move that sparked howls of outrage from pundits and fans who say Detroit got a poor return. The Tigers inked closer Joe Nathan on Dec. 3.

The Tigers make their third straight ALCS: Thanks to an AL Cy Young-winner season from Max Scherzer and a powerful lineup, Detroit reached its third consecutive American League Championship Series. However, the season ended when the Boston Red Sox grand-slammed their way past the Tigers en route to winning the World Series.

Miguel Cabrera wins his second consecutive AL MVP award: Despite a statistical drop-off because be was hobbled by a severe groin injury in the final two months of the season (which required surgery to repair), Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera won his second consecutive American League Most Valuable Player award. In 148 games this season, Cabrera hit an AL-best .348/.442/.636 with 44 home runs, 26 doubles, one triple, 137 RBI, 90 walks, 94 strikeouts and three stolen bases.

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland retires after eight seasons;Brad Ausmus hired to replace him: On Nov. 3, the Tigers hired a catcher they had twice traded away to become their next manager. Considered one of the bright young minds in baseball, Brad Ausmus, 44, left the San Diego Padres' front office, where he had been special assistant to baseball operations since November 2010, to manage Detroit. He replaces the retired Jim Leyland, 68, who led the team to three ALCS appearances and two World Series — but no title. He finished 700-597 as the Tigers manager.

Photo by JOHN SULLIVAN
Plans call for the new Red Wings arena to be built in this largely vacant area north of downtown and bracketed by Woodward Avenue (left), Cass Avenue (right) and Temple Street (foreground).

A financing deal is unveiled for a new $650 million Red Wings arena and entertainment district: In June, the Detroit Downtown Development Authority released a plan for public and private financing of a $450 million, 18,000-seat arena, with total event center space of 650,000 square feet. Another $200 million will be spent on ancillary development, such as residential, retail and office space around the event center. A property tax already on the books for the DDA's downtown district, along with money from the Red Wings' owners, would pay off 30-year state bonds to be issued to pay for the project at Woodward and Interstate 75.

Will this be the last Pizza Bowl at Ford Field? The future of the former Motor City Bowl is unknown after Bowling Green and Pitt play at Ford Field on Dec. 26. The annual college football bowl game was first played in 1997 and moved to Ford Field in 2002 from the Pontiac Silverdome. Organizers say they're trying to work out new conference tie-ins, but the Detroit Lions have been skeptical of a second bowl at their stadium. The Lions are launching a new bowl at Ford Field in 2014, pitting Big Ten and ACC teams.

Stephen Ross

UM athletics gets $100 million gift from Stephen Ross: Michigan alumnus and billionaire Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross on Sept. 4 pledged $200 million to the university, to be split equally between the athletics department and the business school already named for Ross. The money will be spent on improving current athletics facilities and building new ones.